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Birds Comeback Falls Short In Opener Vs. Wingnuts

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Sioux Falls Canaries’ comeback attempt fell just short, as they lost the series opener 11-8 to Wichita on Friday night. David Bergin hit his 11th home run in the loss.

Wichita struck early on starter Dylan Thompson with a two-out rally netting three runs in the first. John Nester put a ball over the fence to bring in all three Wingnut runs.

Sioux Falls answered in their half of the second. David Bergin leading off the inning with a solo home run to put the score at 3-1. It was Bergin’s seventh home run in as many games and his 12th of the season.

A rough third inning followed for Thompson and the Canaries. Wichita scored seven runs in the inning, capped off by a three-run homer from Logan Watkins. The Canaries trailed 10-1 after three.

Wichita added another run in the seventh, but the story of the inning belonged to the bottom half.

Pat Fiala got things rolling, scoring Maxx Garrett and Jeff Malm with a double. Chris Grayson then brought home Jordan Smith and Fiala to cut the lead to six. After a walk to Bergin, Jabari Henry crushed a ball over the left-center field wall to cut Wichita’s lead to three.

The Canaries were unable to muster any more runs, stranding the tying run at the plate in the eighth. Wichita took the opener 11-8.

ODDS AND ENDS

The Canaries tied their season high for runs in an inning with their seven-run seventh … David Bergin now has seven home runs in his last six games … Mark Seyler pitched 4.1 innings in relief, tying Kevin Folman’s mark for the most relief innings this season … the Canaries fall to 9-5 when hitting multiple home runs in a game … Sioux Falls is just 7-15 against South Division opponents in 2018 … with Thompson on the mound, the Canaries are 6-8.

ON DECK

Sioux Falls and Wichita continue their series tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. Birds fans can get their tickets at the Sioux Falls Stadium box office or by calling 336-6060.

PITCHERS OF RECORD

W – Kane (5-1)

L – Thompson (4-6)

SV – Tillman (17)

SCORING RECAP

Top 1st – John Nester three-run home run (Abel Nieves and Tony Thomas score) 3-0 Wichita.